Subjects

From the South to the North, from Old to the New, from Form to the Formless, Temple of Fine Arts Singapore endeavours to bring the Arts to All in the city­state who would like to pursue any one of these forms, be it for professional enhancement or for leisurely enrichment.

Please do get in touch with us if you have any questions on any of the subjects offered, or if you would like to simply have a chat with us on something that interests you.

Vocal.

Hindustani Vocals

Students have an opportunity to learn Hindustani classical music which is sometimes also known as North Indian classical music or Shāstriya Sangeet. In Hindustani Music there are many Gharana’s but widely popular gharana’s are Gwalio, Agra, Kirana and Jaipur­Atrauli. In TFA we are offering the styles of Kirana and Gwalior­Agra Gharana. A Gharana may take …

Carnatic Vocals

As we learn to sing, we enrich ourselves to grow both muscially, emotionally and intellectually as music is indeed food for the soul. TFA provides a range of opportunities from learning the fundamentals of carnatic music, to acquiring more advanced vocal skills and the knowledge of the rich tradition of Carnatic music. In a nurturing …

Strings.

Violin

The students unravel using the violin as a tool, the intricacies of Carnatic music. With the violin they play different octaves within a small range of four strings on an instrument. The serenity of the sounds transports them to a blissful experience. Our TFA Dean, Dr L. Subramaniam the violin maestro, takes a personal interest …

Veena

The Veena department in TFA started in the late 1990s with the support of Pandit Ramalingam and Swami Shantanand Saraswathi. Pandit Ramalingam; an historical figure in the development of Indian Classical Music in Singapore has lent a mine of wealth in training and setting a high standard in classical music. The Veena department started with …

Sitar

Sitar, a stringed instrument of the lute family that is popular in northern India, is a plucked instrument used mainly in Hindustani Classical Music . In appearance, the Sitar is similar to the Tanpura, except it has frets. Maestro Ustad Usman Khan initiated Sitar classes at the Temple of Fine Arts in the 1990’s. Ustad …

Wind.

Flute

The Carnatic flute is a bamboo woodwind instrument. The bamboo flute (லாழ) allows one to emote and create the melodious music which brings much peace in our life and has charmed people. Shri.G.Sridhar, an eminent Carnatic flautist, teaches Carnatic music and the Flute (Venu, 8­hole South Indian bamboo flute) in TFA passing his learnings from …

Percussion.

Piano

The piano course in TFA has been devised to cultivate interest and musicality in aspiring students. Whether it is to realize a dream of playing the piano for ones own pleasure or to perform , individualized learning where personal attention is given, enables the student to progress and develop musical skills at their own pace. …

Mridangam

Learning the mridangam has taught students various skills ­ to conserve energy, to modulate the playing and to actively listen. Music and melodies are experienced and understood by each individual differently but rhythms and beats speak to everyone. By learning to play the mridangam the doors are opened to a whole new dimension of Carnatic …

Tabla

With a brief history that dates back to approximately 150 years, the Tabla has been hailed as one of the most versatile drums in the world today. Having once been confined to just Hindustani (North Indian Classical) music and dance, the Tabla has now found a home in all major genres of music across the …

Dance.

Kathak

Kathak is an Indian classical dance form that originated in the lands of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. We offer the art form based on the Lucknow Gharana, as formulated by Pandit Birju Maharaj. A notable feature of Kathak is the intricate footwork and the highlight of the dance is the tahai, a spinning movement in one spot at great speed. Both …

Odissi

Odissi is an Indian classical dance style from the eastern state of Odisha, India. Like other forms of Indian classical dance, Odissi traces its origin to antiquity. This dance style is characterised by two unique positions: the square chowka pose, and the tribhangi ­where the body is deflected into 3 bends. While footwork is very firm and strong, movements …

Bharathanatyam

Entering the Bharathanatyam hall, which we fondly address as Kanagasabai, one would find many groups of young budding artistes learning from the various teachers. Each class is in full concentration with their teacher’s instructions and the beats that the thatukali produces. Each group is learning a different topic at a different pace, and each student is carefully …

Foundation.

Yoga

Yoga is the science of right living and, as such is intended to be incorporated in daily life. It works in all aspects of the person: the physical, vital, mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual. Yoga aims at bringing the different bodily functions into perfect coordination so that they work for the good of the whole …